Federation of municipalities

General definition

The idea to establish federations of municipalities dates back to 1965 when Takieddine El Solh, in his capacity as Lebanese Minister of the Interior (1964-1965), called for the holding of a national congress on the municipalities in Lebanon.

In 1977, Legislative Decree No. 118 of 30 June, on municipalities, authorizes the creation of federations1 to allow them to undertake projects that exceed the financial possibilities of a municipality. They can be in the form of major urban works, fight against fire, management of slaughterhouses, waste management, sanitation, sewerage systems development, road safety ...

Federations or unions are created by decree, or at the request of municipality (optional) or on top of the initiative of Minister of Interior (as necessary). They can constitute an unlimited number of cities and enjoy a legal status with financial and administrative autonomy. They exercise their powers in accordance with the Law on municipality (Article 114).

Federations of Municipalities in Lebanon

Three years after the promulgation of the Law of Municipalities, 6 federations were successively established (Kesrouane, Saida, West Bekaa, Chouf, Matn Ech Chemali and Es Sahli Oual Aoussat). The first federation was founded as the Federation of Municipalities of Al Kesrouane Fatouh, five months after the promulgation of the law, and it included all municipalities in the kadaa. Most federations formed at the time, were in areas near the capital of the country which wanted to take full advantage of these local power.

The current number of federations is 37. Note that 17 federations have emerged after the municipal elections of 1998, reflecting a genuine desire to restart these local institutions, and refers mainly to the return of the municipal culture.

Structure of the federation

The authority of the federation is like that of the municipality divided between the decision-making authority held by the chairmen of municipal councils and the executing authority held by the president of the federation.

1. Decision making power

A. The council of the federation

The power of decision lies at the council of the federation, which is composed of chairpersons of municipalities’ members of the Federation, or elected and appointed by the presidents of the concerned municipalities for the full mandate (Art. 119). The mandate of the council of the federation ends with the completion of the mandates of the municipal councils (Art. 115 & 117).

B. The authority of the Council of the Federation

The Council of the Federation include:

Discuss projects of common interest to municipalities in the federation.
Develop plans, prepare specifications and decide on expropriation necessary for the implementation of projects of common interest to municipalities in the federation.
Establish the budget for the federation.
Decide on vacant posts in the federation.
Decide on the general urban plan of the federation.

Decisions taken by the Federation Council are binding for member municipalities (art. 128). It is subject to the same rules that govern the actions of municipal councils (art. 129).

2. The executive power of the federation

The president of the federation elected by majority vote of the board, holds the executive power. He is assisted by a team of officials, headed by a manager, this team is responsible for public health, engineering, administration of finance and the municipal police (Art. 121 to 125).

2. Financing of the Federation

In general the financing of the federation is composed of:

10% of actual income of each member municipality.
An additional percentage of the budget of the member municipalities, which benefit from a collective project. The percentage is determined by the Council of the Federation with the consent of the Minister of the Interior.
Funds, grants and other income allocated by public property of the federation.
Revenue allocated to the federations by the autonomous fund of municipalities.
Funds allocated by the state budget to the federations for development projects.
Donations and personal wills.

Footnotes and references

In 1977, Legislative Decree No. 118 of 30 June, on municipalities, authorizes the establishment of federations1 to allow them to undertake projects that exceed the financial possibilities of a municipality. They can be in the form of major urban works, fight against fire, management of slaughterhouses, waste management, sanitation, sewerage systems development, road safety ...